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Let's talk about Mother Nature. Some say she's the grand old lady of gardening. Libraries literally overflow with loving odes to the Great Goddess of Green. She's seen as a protector, a provider, a good-natured garden guardian. We thank her for bulbs that bloom, self-sown seeds, perfect perennials and romantic rosebuds. Well, I hate to be blasphemous - but Mother Nature can also be a vindictive old battleaxe. (And I just bet my roses are stricken with black spot by tomorrow.)
The Ellerslie Flower Show is New Zealand's answer to the famous Chelsea Flower Show. Garden designers from across the country showcase their styles, while plantspeople ply their wares. Tens of thousands of gardeners flock from across the country to see what's hot in the New Zealand gardening world. The 1998 show, held in the last week of November, was set to be an absolute stunner. After a one year hiatus (developers bought the old site), the Ellerslie Flower Show was going to be back, brighter and better than ever. I read all the pre-show publicity. I drooled over the descriptions of the new five hectare site, nestled into the Auckland Regional Botanic Gardens. With towering totara trees and a man-made lake, it sounded spectacular. My partner in gardening crime (the defacto mother-in-law) booked her flight from Christchurch, and we were all set to overindulge in our very own horticultural heaven. While the show officially opened to the public on a Wednesday, I was lucky enough to sneak in an appetiser, with the media preview day on Tuesday. It was a gorgeous day and the exhibits shone in the sunshine. I advised people to pack their bags with plenty of sunscreen and a cold drink. The clouds rolled in the next morning. We watched the sky darken, but decided that even Auckland's notoriously patchy weather would hold out for the day. After all, most gardeners are prepared to endure a summer shower or two, while they admire the flowers. So off we went, dragging along my partner Grant. It certainly was a wonderful show. The outdoor exhibits were magical, like this waterfall garden from the North Shore City Council. Hidden under one of the aforementioned totaras, it looked as if it must surely have been there for years. There were scores of shops selling all sorts of gardening goodies, from plants to pots to prints. The grand marquees were packed with ideas and inspiration. Even the floral art marquee - an art I must confess to finding rather bizarre - caught my attention and kept it for a good half hour.
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